CROWLEY, LOUISIANA
MARCH 4, 2002
1) The Acadia Parish School Board met on this the 4th day of March 2002, at 5:00 p.m., in a regular session, with Vice-President Charles F. Daigle presiding. Members present were Mr. Lyle C. Johnson, Mr. Bill Pinac, Ms. Kitty M. Valdetero, Ms. Wadie H. Bias, Mr. Woody M. Marceaux, Mr. Lynn Shamsie, Mr. John H. Quebodeaux, Mr. Nolton Senegal, Sr., Mr. Rodney J. Trahan, Mr. Johnnie L. Smith, Mr. Shirley Vige', Dr. Robert McManus, and Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Marietta W. James. President John A. Suire, Mr. Roland J. Boudreaux, and Mr. Paul K. Bellon were absent.
2&3) Mr. John Quebodeaux led the prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.
4) Consider approval of a revised agenda, if there are any changes.
The agenda was revised by adding Action Item 2 (CONSIDER APSB COMMITTEE SYSTEM.), Routine Item 6a (CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION OF THE BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE TO REQUEST A PERFORMANCE AUDIT.), Consent Item 3 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM SHIRLEEN LAVERGNE, CAFETERIA TECHNICIAN, RICHARD ELEMENTARY, FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY FROM FEBRUARY 28, 2002, TO MAY 31, 2002.), Consent Item 4 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM MONICA MEYER, TEACHER AIDE, CROWLEY HIGH, FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY FROM AUGUST 2002, TO DECEMBER 2002.), and Consent Item 5 (CONSIDER REQUEST FROM ROSE GUILLORY, TEACHER, ROSS HEAD START, FOR LEAVE WITHOUT PAY FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2002, TO APRIL 30, 2002.), upon motion by Mr. Shamsie, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried.
5) Read and approve minutes of the February 4, 2002, meeting.
Reading of the minutes of the February 4, 2002, meeting was dispensed with and adopted as corrected on page 187, Routine Item 20, to read "April Board meeting" instead of "next Board meeting", upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a unanimous voice vote.
6) Recognize Students of the Year. (Eric Stutes)
Mr. Eric Stutes thanked judges who assisted in judging for Students of the Year. Holly Blanchard, a fifth grade student at Estherwood Elementary, Megan Young, an eighth grade student at Crowley Middle School, and Bridget Lyons, a twelfth grade student at Church Point High were recognized as Acadia Parish winners. School level winners were also recognized. Parish winners will compete for regional honors. Students and parents were commended for their tremendous efforts.
Dr. James announced that 15 schools in Acadia Parish were recognized for exceeding their growth targets established by the Louisiana Accountability Program. More than $129,000 was awarded to these schools by the State.
7) Recognize academic All-State volleyball and football. (Lee Bellard, Helen Schmaltz, Ronnie Doguet)
Mr. Lee Bellard, principal, Church Point High; Mrs. Helen Schmaltz, principal, Crowley High; and Mr. Ronnie Doguet, principal, Iota High, recognized academic All-State volleyball and football students from their respective schools.
1) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding criteria for waiving penalties on sales tax collections.
The Budget/Finance Committee recommended that the sales tax collector be given authority to waive penalty on first time audit, provided that there is not evidence of fraud and that the entire balance of tax and interest is paid in full.
Mr. Vige' motioned and Mr. Trahan seconded to not waive penalties on sales tax collections under any circumstance.
This raised questions regarding notification and timing of implementation of this policy. Mr. Gerard Caswell, attorney, indicated that the current APSB policy permits such waivers of penalties up to $1,000. He explained that some penalties result from audits while others are not related to audits. Discussion ensued among Board members. Question to end debate was called by Ms Valdetero and passed by a unanimous voice vote.
The motion by Mr. Vige', seconded by Mr. Trahan, to not waive penalties on sales tax collections under any circumstance carried by a roll call vote of 8 to 4.
YEA: Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Shamsie, Trahan, Smith, Vige', McManus
NAY: Johnson, Pinac, Quebodeaux, Senegal
ABSENT: Suire, Boudreaux, Bellon
2) Consider APSB Committee System.
A motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Pinac, to discontinue the committee system in favor of having two board meetings per month beginning in July 2002, failed by a roll call vote of 7 to 6.
YEA: Johnson, Pinac, Valdetero, Marceaux, Shamsie, Quebodeaux
NAY: Bias, Senegal, Trahan, Smith, Daigle, Vige', McManus
ABSENT: Suire, Boudreaux, Bellon
ROUTINE ITEM:
1) Consider bids received for refinancing of Egan/Iota Bonds.
Mr. Bill Beck of Foley and Judell explained that refinancing of Iota/Egan bonds having a five-year maturity and an interest rate of 3.67% in lieu of the current 6.00% rate will save more than $50,000 interest through maturity. He presented a resolution to be included with the motion, and informed the Board of pertinent facts related to calling the existing bonds on April 18, 2002.
Upon motion by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Dr. McManus, and carried by a roll call vote of 12 to 0, the bid received from Foley Judell for refinancing of Egan/Iota bonds was approved. (See resolution inserted following page 6.)
YEA: Johnson, Pinac, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Senegal, Trahan, Smith, Vige', McManus
NAY: None
ABSENT: Suire, Boudreaux, Bellon
2) Consider proclamation declaring March as Career Month in Acadia Parish. (Lee Ethel Dupont)
Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried, the Board adopted a proclamation declaring March as Career Month in Acadia Parish.
CAREER MONTH PROCLAMATION
Whereas, trends in the workplace will cause Louisianians in and entering the workforce to change jobs and careers several times in a lifetime; and
Whereas, resources to lessen the impact of such change are available in the state through guidance, education, training, work exploration, and job opportunities, all aimed at preparing for job and career changes; and
Whereas, a merging of academic, state, and private sector resources can make services more accessible to people who need them; and
Whereas, a merging of academic, state, and private sector resources can make services more accessible to people who need them; and
Whereas, a strong partnership of universities, community college, technical colleges, schools, state agencies, business, and industry has been formed to educate the citizens of the state about the changing workplace and the changing work skills; and
Whereas, the partnership will continue efforts to provide career-related opportunities for students through part-time jobs and full-time jobs for graduates to remain in Louisiana;
Now, therefore, the Acadia Parish School Board does hereby proclaim March, as Career Month in the state of Louisiana and encourage all citizens to assist sponsoring organizations in this endeavor for a more prosperous people.
3) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to approve mid-year budget revisions.
Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried, the Board approved mid-year budget revisions as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee. Detailed information was provided to the Board at last month's meeting.
4) Consider recommendation of the Transportation/Facilities and Budget/Finance Committees regarding replacement of sewage treatment facilities at Evangeline Elementary and Mire Elementary.
Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried, the Board approved replacement of sewage treatment systems at Evangeline Elementary and Mire Elementary Schools to be funded with 2001-02 funds budgeted for utilities.
5) Consider recommendation of the Transportation/Facilities and Budget/Finance Committees regarding repair of a chiller at Crowley High School.
Upon motion by Mr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried, the Board approved repairing a chiller at Crowley High School at a cost of approximately $15,000, as recommended by the Transportation/Facilities and Budget/Finance Committees.
6) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee regarding placement of recently hired classified employees into the salary system.
Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Mr. Trahan, and carried, the Board approved placement of recently hired classified employees into the salary system as recommended by the Budget/Finance Committee.
6a) Consider recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee to request a performance audit.
Upon motion by Mr. Vige', seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Superintendent was authorized to contact the Louisiana Legislative Auditor to request a performance audit.
7) Consider recommendation of the Committee to Develop a Plan for Teacher Pay Increase and the Budget/Finance Committee.
Dr. James explained both recommendations. The Committee to Develop a Plan for Teacher Pay Increase recommended issuing a thirteenth check and a $1,000 sign-up bonus for the next two (2) fiscal years.
Upon motion by Mr. Vige', seconded by Mr. Pinac, and carried, the Superintendent was authorized to request that the Louisiana Legislative Auditor conduct an extensive audit and/or evaluation of the Acadia Parish School Board and specifically make recommendations to streamline operations, reduce administrative positions and consolidate duties and agencies within said system. Furthermore, conduct an individual productivity analysis, hours worked and specific duties for each employee of the Acadia Parish School Board.
The Committee also requested a Louisiana legislative audit for an individual productivity analysis, hours worked, and specific duties for each employee of the Acadia Parish School Board. The Budget/Finance Committee recommended a $2,500 teacher pay increase from existing funds and budget cuts.
Mr. Mike Leonards, business director, estimated that the Teacher Pay Increase Committee's recommendation would cost approximately 3 million per year. The Budget/Finance Committees recommendation would cost approximately 2.1 million per year.
Mr. Marceaux motioned and Ms. Valdetero seconded to accept the Teacher Pay Increase Committee's recommendation. A substitute motion to adopt the recommendation of the Budget/Finance Committee was offered by Mr. Shamsie and seconded by Mr. Trahan. Ms. Jenny LeJeune, AAE President, suggested immediate action instead of deferring for a permanent solution. Discussion continued regarding relative merits of both recommendations. Question was called to end debate by Dr. McManus and carried.
The substitute motion to give a $2,500 teacher pay increase from existing funds and budget cuts. failed by a roll call vote of 5 to 7.
YEA: Pinac, Shamsie, Senegal, Trahan, Smith
NAY: Johnson, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Quebodeaux, Vige', McManus
Discussion ensued regarding who would be considered a teacher. An amendment to the main motion was offered by Mr. Quebodeaux, seconded by Mr. Pinac, that the thirteenth check and signing bonus apply to classroom teachers only. Mr. Marceaux clarified that his main motion regarding teacher pay supplements applies to teachers below the level of assistant principal. The main motion to issue a thirteenth check and a signing bonus of $1,000 and to all teachers below the level of assistant principal passed by a unanimous roll call vote of 12 to 0
YEA: Johnson, Pinac, Valdetero, Bias, Marceaux, Shamsie, Quebodeaux, Senegal, Trahan, Smith, Vige', McManus
NAY: None
ABSENT: Suire, Boudreaux, Bellon
8) Correspondence
Dr. James drew the Boards' attention to the Head Start Refunding Application for 2002-2003 (pre-planning information for 2002-2003 budget preparations was included in Board members' packets).
DISCUSSION ITEMS:
1) Discuss draft of sections A, B, and C of APSB policy as submitted by Forethought, Inc.
Sections A, B, and C of the APSB Policy Manual as revised and codified by Jim Prescott of Forethought, Inc. was distributed and received by each Board member. There was no discussion.
CONSENT ITEMS:
Upon motion by Mr. Senegal, seconded by Ms. Valdetero, and carried by a unanimous voice vote, the Board took the following action on consent items:
1) Approved assignments and changes of professional employees.
2) Received sales tax report showing a year-to-date increase of 75.10%.
3) Granted request to Shirleen Lavergne, cafeteria technician, Richard Elementary, for leave without pay from February 28, 2002, to May 31, 2002.
4) Granted request to Monica Meyer, teacher aide, Crowley High, for leave without pay from August 2002, to December 2002.
5) Granted request to Rose Guillory, teacher, Ross Head Start, for leave without pay from February 1, 2002, to April 30, 2002.
CLOSING:
There being no other business to come before the Board, upon motion by Mr. Trahan, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried, the meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.
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John A. Suire, President
ATTEST:
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Dr. Marietta W. James, Superintendent